Minutes: February 18, 2020

VENUE: Karen Brown’s house

DATE: February 18, 2020

HOSTESSES: Mary Ayres Griggs, Mary Ella Hill, Leslie Morgan and Karen Brown

WELCOME & CALL TO ORDER: Karen Brown. Meeting called to order.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Karen Brown. The minutes from Jan have not yet been posted on the website as Margaret’s baby is due any time if not already been born. We can approve them in March.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/MEMBER UPDATES: Karen thanked thank Leslie, Mary Ayres and Mary Ella for hosting. We have a record turn out for this month’s meeting.  Normally meetings gather about 35 members, however today, we had 56 reply that they were coming! Fun and exciting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  • Vice President – Terri Alston, Hostess chart.
  • Membership and Dues – Jessica Brown and Rae Knox. No report.
  • Program Chairs – Jennifer Hill and Mary Ella Hill. Nothing to report.
  • Speech School – Aimee Nix and Caroline Davis
  •  Quarry Garden – Blain Allen and Shelby Drinkard
  • Flower Show – Jennifer Euart and Mary Ayres Griggs. Flower Show is at the Atlanta Botanical Garden February 21-23rd. Please send me a picture of your entry if you submit a flower.

NEW BUSINESS: I have received one application for membership for next year. We have spots for two more – If you know of someone, please propose them by March 15th.

I am going to set a date for second half of March for the nominating committee to put together the slate for next year. If you would like to volunteer for the board, please let me know. It has is a fun and nice way to get to know membership. 

Lindsey is out of town but asked I share that on Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 from 10am-4pm, there is a tea and tour of Bellmore – the Georgian style home of Jim and Teen Day Sanders. They will also be selling Deen Day’s floral design collection of modern pottery containers, driftwood sculptures and table setting wares. Tickets are $50 and will be sold until April 3rd. I have the email address if you want to buy tickets on line.

We have a date and location for our May meeting. Blair Allen reserved Rhodes Hall for us! The Allens are really making our May. However, being at Rhodes Hall, we have to use a caterer which they approve – our dishes from our cookbook will have to wait until the fall. This does give us a few extra months to continue practice making our masterpieces.

PROGRAM: Lindsay Mann, Sustenance Design. Lindsay’s website is www.sustenancedesign.net. She is on instagram as “Geometry Dance”. She mentioned these things we were interested in:

ADJOURN: Karen Brown

Next meeting is March 24th at the Governor’s Mansion. They have asked we try to carpool if we can. Karen will put the parking details in the March 1st letter.

Karen adjourned our meeting.

Minutes submitted by Liles Thompson.

Minutes: January 21, 2020

VENUE: Agape Youth and Family Center

DATE: January 21, 2020

HOSTESSES:   Claire Benedict, Jennifer Hill, Claire Marie Huff and Molly West

WELCOME / CALL TO ORDER: Karen Brown

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes from the November meeting have been posted on the website. There was a motion to approve, second and all were in favor. The minutes stand approved.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / MEMBER UPDATES:
Karen thanked Sophie Mason and Lisa Hinson for organizing Mimosa’s involvement with Oakland Cemetery’s Christmas project. Jinny Keough and Lindsey Sones joined them to help. Jinny showed pictures and told us about the event.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Flower Show – Jennifer Euart and Mary Ayres Griggs

Mary Ayres talked about the Flower Show. The entry for the display division is full. Ginger and Yvonne Wade talked about the rules of an entry in Horticulture and how to submit off you flower on February 19th at the ABG between 1-7PM.

Vice President – Terri Alston

Hostess chart is almost complete.

Speech School – Aimee Nix reported she would like to have a work day at the ASS before our meeting in April. The date TBA.

Atlanta History Center – Blain Allen gave an update about the AHC energy efficiency and the indoor and outdoor museum.

Treasurer – Jo Phelps reported about finances. She said we may need to raise dues. It was discussed and comments were made, and it was decided that a small group would get together to come up with some ideas of how to best go about raising dues. Current dues are $50 a year.

State Garden Club Liaison – Lindsey Sones is out of town, so Karen shared the Cherokee Garden Library Lecture’s upcoming event on Thursday April 16 at 7PM at the History Center. Jennifer Jewell is speaking about her book: “The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants”.

NEW BUSINESS:

Sissy Davis and Shelby Drinkard were nominated and approved to be on the Nominating Committee for the 2020-21 slate.

Mimosa is accepting 3 new members for 2020-2021.

PROGRAM:

Nell Benn, CEO of Agape

Nell welcomed us, gave a brief explanation of all Agape does and thanked Tee Davis for her continued support in memory of Julie.

ADJOURN:

Karen concluded and adjourned our meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Elkin Taylor

Minutes: November 19, 2019

VENUE: Swan Coach House

DATE: November 19, 2019

HOSTESSES: Maysie Beeson, Elizabeth Spalding, Aimee Nix and Sissy Davis

WELCOME & CALL TO ORDER: Karen Brown
Karen called the meeting to order and thanked Maysie, Elizabeth, Aimee and Sissy.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Karen Brown
The October minutes have been posted on the website for approval. There was a motion to approve and a second; all voted in favor. The minutes stand approved as presented.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES: Karen Brown
Karen shared some funny recipes and stories and announced that for the May meeting, everyone should pick a recipe from Mimosa’s cookbook from the 1970’s.

Mary Huntz sent a photograph to share: Thanksgiving Fun with Flowers.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Vice President – Terri Alston, Hostess chart.
Terri Alston reported that the Hostess Chart needed some tweaking. There was a shortage of hostesses. Four members host a meeting, (five may host if family). Members host every three years. We are asking for flexibility with hosting, especially if you have a large number of family members. Twenty-eight members are due on the list to host the eight meetings in 2020-21. For these eight meetings, each with four hostesses, we need 32 hostesses.

Membership and Dues – Jessica Brown and Rae Knox
Dues are $50 until Dec. 1st, and after Dec. 1st, the dues go up to $75. Checks may be handed or mailed to Rae, or pay via PayPal on the Mimosa website

Program Chairs – Jennifer Hill and Mary Ella Hill Nothing to report.

Speech School – Aimee Nix and Caroline Davis
The Kenan Preschool loves to use the Mimosa Garden for special events, including an event they call “Courtyard”. The Parents’ Council plans one Courtyard in the Fall and one in the Spring. These events are hands-on learning experiences that relate to science, nature and the classroom’s current curriculum. During nice weather, this area provides the perfect place to explore nature and have fun with messy craft projects.

The Mimosa Garden is also the beautiful lush backdrop for school photos in the Fall. Russ Chism, our contact at Solterra, said that everything looks great. I’ll work with Russ to plan our workday in the spring.”

Quarry Garden – Blain Allen and Shelby Drinkard
We are managing our collections in the arctic blast as best we can! We have purchased a little over 5,000 plants for the new entrance gardens being installed in front of the Cyclorama, Texas and Souper Jenny. We’ve had to cover the ones ordered from Florida with frost blankets, but they look fine. Hopefully our irrigation system survived unscathed as well. The new gardens will be about half native plants, a major expansion of our native plant collection.

The main news right now in the Quarry Garden, is that it’s main steward, Senior Horticulturist Rosemary Bathurst, fell and broke her right knee!

She was not gardening at the time, but up in the ballroom at a staff function. She’s at home recovering, but will likely not be back for a month or two at least. In the meantime, all our other staff are taking turns heading down into the Quarry to blow the falling leaves off the trails and lead volunteer workdays pulling the cool-season weeds. We have several hundred small plants to put in this fall as well and are hoping for Rosemary to be back and participate in that planting with us. There are Christmas ferns, yellow woods poppies, evergreen sedges and cardinal flowers amongst others.

The Quarry looks beautiful in it’s fall color finery, as it does every year. The hickories are abundant, all golden yellow, and the sourwoods are a pinky-red. It’s a great time to visit!

Flower Show – Jennifer Euart and Mary Ayres Griggs
Flower Show is at the Atlanta Botanical Garden February 21-23rd.

Treasurer – Jo Phelps: No update.

Oakland Christmas Project – Lisa Hinson and Sophie Mason
On December 13th, Mimosa is decorating the Jacobs Mausoleum. Sending around sign up sheet.

PROGRAM: Judy Nolan, “Leave Nothing Left Unsaid”.
Jody Nolan presented her book “Leave Nothing Unsaid”. Jody shared how important it is to write a letter to those we love. She shared some heart wrenching stories how hard things happen to wonderful people and that life is not fair. Affirming someone in writing is a gift that we can give them and ourselves. She asked “Why would you wait to tell someone you love them”. It is important to speak life into those we love. Many people don’t know where to start, so Jody created a workbook to guide people through a step by step process of writing meaningful letters to those we love. She stressed the importance if doing this now. We all have busy lives and urgent tasks, but we need to do this now and tell those we love exactly how we feel because there is no guarantee of tomorrow. You may find her at book here: www.leavenothingunsaid.com/blog/when-life-doesnt-tie-pretty-bow

ADJOURN:
Next meeting is January 21st at The Agape Youth and Family Center. The meeting was adjourned, and lunch was served.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kyle Wilcox Garges

Minutes: October 15, 2019

VENUE:  Atlanta History Center

DATE:  October 15, 2019

HOSTESSES: Kim Austin, Jinny Keough, Eileen Millard and Shayla Rumley

WELCOME / CALL TO ORDER:
Karen called the meeting to order after a productive work day morning and extended a warm welcome to the group.  She thanked our hostesses and those who participated in the work day.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes from the September meeting have been posted on the website. There was a motion to approve, seconded, and all voted in favor. The minutes were approved.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / MEMBER UPDATES:
Karen Brown shared that Nadine Lawton is the oldest living member at 97. She joined Mimosa in 1946 – 73 years ago.

Member update: Elizabeth Morgan has requested Non-Resident member status as she is in Highlands.

On December 14, Sophie Mason and Lisa Henson will lead us through a fun day of decorating a mausoleum at Oakland Cemetery for their Victorian Holiday.

Amaryllis project: This is on hold this year unless someone wants to take it on. Just let me know.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden has started to charge for the use of their rooms. Therefore, we do not have a meeting scheduled there, this is why if you have noticed. Please contact Karen with any questions.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Hostess Chart: Vice-president Terri Alston
Please sign up on the hostess chart if your name is listed.

Membership & Dues: Jessica Brown and Rae Knox
Dues are $50 until Dec. 1st, and after Dec. 1st, the dues go up to $75.
Checks can be handed or mailed to Rae, or pay via PayPal on the Mimosa website.

Program Chairs: Mary Ella Hill and Jennifer Hill
The next meeting will be at the Swan Coach House.

Quarry Garden: Blain Allen and Shelby Drinkard
Sarah Roberts is here to give us a detailed update in just a few minutes.

Historian: Jinny Keough and Lindsey Sones
Jinny shared that she meet with Pattie Boykin. Pattie has many Mimosa memories; a cookbook the garden club sold 9000 copies of in the 1970s, and green aprons with an olive.

State Garden Club Liaison: Lindsey Sones
American Hydrangea Society Fall General Meeting is Monday, October 28, 2019 at 7:00 pm.
Atlanta History Center’s Woodruff Auditorium in McElreath Hall
130 West Paces Ferry Atlanta GA 30305

Proven Winners Plants has agreed to donate Hydrangea arborescens cultivars to the AHS for a fundraiser. Atlanta History Center’s (AHC) Sarah Roberts, Vice President of the Goizueta Gardens and Living Collections will be speaker. Sarah’s topic for the evening will be “Goizueta Gardens; a transformation”.

NEW BUSINESS:
This month’s good news that Karen shared is Atlanta is in the midst of Atlanta Celebrates Photography, one of the largest photography festivals in the US. Aimee and Beth Nix have an exciting photography show at their gallery through the end of the month featuring 4 Atlanta based photographers. The show “Choice, Chance and Circumstance” explores new approaches in 21st century photography. Worth our time to go by and see the exhibit and support Aimee and Beth!

PROGRAM:
Jennifer Hill introduced Sarah Roberts, Olga C. DeGoizueta Vice President, Goizueta Gardens and Living Collections, who updated us on the Quarry Garden and the grounds surrounding the History Center, and Sheffield Hale, President of the Atlanta History Center, who updated us on the History Center.

ADJOURN:
Julie Yates was the raffle winner for the cookbook and Karen Brown adjourned our meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Liles Thompson

 

Minutes: September 17, 2019

VENUE:  Cator Woolford Garden

DATE:  September 17, 2019

HOSTESSES: Jackie Cushman, Elkin Taylor, Elkin Alston and Mary Huntz

WELCOME / CALL TO ORDER:
Karen Brown called the meeting to order, thanked our hostesses and welcomed the group to the new year.  Karen thanked Lindsey Stones for her leadership last year and helping Karen transition into her new role as president-Lindsay you are organized, calm and your enjoyment of our garden club is contagious!  Thank you! 

ANNOUNCEMENTS / MEMBER UPDATES: 
Unfortunately both Sandy Jones and Sarah Clark passed away recently. They both had deep Mimosa ties.

Sandy was daughter-in-law of Nadine Jones Lawton (most senior Mimosa member since 1946) and sister-in-law of late member Candy Jones Simmons. Sandy became a member in 2010. Sandy was very involved in as much as her work commitments allowed her time.

Sarah Clarke’s Mimosa family tree includes her daughter, Mary Mac Clarke Southerland, and former members Laura Smith Clarke and Laura Payne Smith.  Sarah was a former Mimosa President and a very active member since 1976.

In honor of Sandy Jones, Mimosa donated to Catholic Charities of Atlanta, and in honor of Sarah Clarke, Mimosa is donating to the Emory Goizueta Alzheimer’s Research Center.

Mimosa members have requested to become, or renew, their professional membership status – Deborah Childers, Hallie Crawford, Jackie Cushman, Margaret Glenn, Sharena Hall, Nancy Hatcher, Claire Marie Huff, Elizabeth Irby, Sarah McElroy, and Nancy Powell.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Karen– I would like to approve the minutes from the May meeting which have been posted on the website.  Is there a motion to approve the minutes as submitted?  A second?  All vote in favor?  The minutes stand approved.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

New Member Mentor: Mary Ayres Griggs- Introduced Mimosa new members- Amy Underwood and Brittany Hill.

Hostess Chart: Vice-president Terri Alston
Hostess Chart will be provided at our next meeting

Membership & Dues: Jessica Brown and Rae Knox
Jessica asked for $50 dues and explained how to pay.  After 12/1 the dues go up to $75.  You can mail your check to Rae or use PayPal on Mimosa’s website

Treasurer: Jo Phelps – No report

Speech School: Caroline Davis, Aimee Nix – No report.

Quarry Garden: Blain Allen and Shelby Drinkard
Quarry Garden updates include that the purple coneflower bloomed heavily this year, has gone to seed & is bringing in goldfinches. The cardinal flower is attracting lots of hummingbirds. Ferns have been planted on the hill where trees fell during Hurricane Irma.

Swan Woods – Opening in September is the boardwalk, which includes a gravel path from the woodland meadow to the Wood Cabin. The Apiary in the lower wildflower meadow has 4 honeybee hives.

Swan House Renovation – the oval drive entrance is in the final stages of renovation, which includes removal of the asphalt and replacing it with exposed aggregate concrete intended to resemble the original materials.

Smith Farm – 192 pounds of heirloom produce was harvested between July & early August

Compost Program – 135 gallons of coffee grounds from BRASH was diverted into the composite program. 1080 gallons of food from Souper Jenny was diverted into the composite program. Began discussions with Swan House to collect their pre-consumer produce to compost.

Entrance – The summer rotation of cover crops at the corn of AHC has been cut & tilled so the soil can now support a new garden, intended for installation in October. A new planting plan at the entrance to McElreath Hall has begun.

Oliguita’s Garden – Water lilies and lotus have been acquired, potted & planted in the fountain. The ‘Peggy Martin’ roses have grown successfully and are being trained to wind around the ring that connects the columns.

Flower Show: Jennifer Euart
Jennifer has agreed to help with this year’s flower show. She is not here today, but it will be held at the ABG, Feb 21-23.

Garden Club of Georgia:
Lindsey Sones is helping Mary Huntz with this job this year- (Garden Club of Ga. theme this year is “Nurturing the Garden we call Georgia” with an emphasis on native plants and pollinators. Cherokee Garden Library’s fall lecture Deborah Nevins Groundbreaking design: Where Beauty and Sustainability is Wednesday October 16th 7 p.m. at Atlanta History Center)

Website:
Margaret Glenn could not be here today, but asked if you have any changes to your information, please let her know. Margaret had a request from membership last spring for us to each have the ability to add photos from various events (meetings, gatherings, work day, party) to our website. It requires adding some features to the website at a one time cost of $650. I have emailed Jo Phelps about this in regards to our budget. Hopefully next meeting, Margaret can explain this to us if this is approved.

NEW BUSINESS:  
Mimosa has three spots available for new members this year. We will begin accepting proposals in January. There is more information on our website on nominating a New Member. Voting begins April 1.

Next month’s program will be at the Atlanta History Center so bring your work gloves!

PROGRAM:  
Jennifer Hill introduced Cooper Sanchez, a historical garden designer who oversaw the restoration of the garden, and Paige McKay Kubik, CEO of the Frazier Center.  The Frazier Center is is a non-profit organization helping children & adults with developmental disabilities lead normal lives.

ADJOURN: Karen Brown adjourned our meeting

Respectfully submitted,

Liles Thompson